Golf-club.



R. 6. TYLER.

GOLF cLu. AEPUCAION lLED FEB. I2. $914.

l,139@@,738. Patented May18,1l915.

wh/@$59126 Inventor.- mwe a. www Maffia @.Tyzea.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May il, 121.5.

Application filed February 12, 1914. Serial No. $13,403.

T0 all 'whom t may concern: l

Be it known that T, RALPH G. TYLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Exeter, county of Rockingham, State of New Hampshire, (whose post-officev address is Sigma Chi House, Hanover, New `Hampshire,) have invented an improvement in Golf-Clubs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention aims to provide an improved head for a golf stick adapted especially for lifting the Vball from a hed of soft earth or sand, raising it over a bunker or striking it when positioned beneath an over-hanging rock or other obstruction.

Referring to the drawings which show an illustrative embodiment of lmy improved head as described herein, Figure 1 is a front view, showing the front or playing face; Fig. 2, a side elevation, and Fig. 3, an end view looking at the toe of the head. Fig. 4, a view showing a common way of using the golf club wherein the ball is shown lying in a hollow just in advance of the golf. club head.

Referring tothe drawings and Figs. 1 2 thereof, it will be noted that this head, which may be of any suitable material, as metal, is slightly oval in outline, being somewhat lon er lengthwise thereof from the toe 1, to t e heel 2, than from side edge 3,

to side edge 4, and that the neck 5 and shank 6, extend upwardly therefrom substantially in the Vertical plane of the axial center from toe to heel and, see Figs. 1, 2, forward therefrom at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, the shank being adapted, of course, to receive the usual* handleor stick, not shown. The side edges 3, 4, of the head, see Fig. 3, recede downwardly and Fig. 3 in a curved line inwardly toward the center of the rear face, and thefrear face'of the head is recessed at 7, 8, on each side of the longitudinal center leaving the toe 1, see Fig. 2, somewhat thicker and heavier than the heel to assist theplayer when swinging itby adding momentum to the stroke. It is also easier to strike more accuratelywhenv the toe is weighted. This construction provides a strengthening rih 9l running longitudinally from the toe to the heel, while the side edges 3, 4, overhang the same.

I The toe 1, Fig. 2, alsov recedes downwardly and Fig. 2 rearwardly in -arsuitable curve forming a ground contacting curved face 10, so that, (see Fig. 5) when the head is positioned just back of the ball and in position to strike the same, the curved lowerportion beneath the toe edge is nearer the ground than the edge itself of the toe, and if, during the stroke the ground is also struck, this rounded lower face will be the portion of the head that will contact with and slide over the ground, thus preventing the edge proper of the'toe l from contacting with the ground iirst and cutting into the same, which would retard or perhaps entirely block the stroke.

lit will he seen that in this construction of head, there is provided a playing or hall engaging face l1, with the neck 5 and shank 6 leaving the same in a plane substantially central with its longitudinal aXis. When in use the head will be swung in the direction of its greatest length and will engage the ball on the face 11, in a plane substantially parallel with the player, that is, in the direction of play, whereas with `the clubs in common use, the head extends longitudinally forward from the player and is swung against the ball sidewise or edgewise.

This new head is particularly adapted for use in raising or lifting the ball from soft ground or sand, the curved upwardly and backwardly receding edge of the toe permitting said edge to sli e naturally either between the ball and the ground or permitting the narrow toe, which points toward the ground when making the stroke,andfnot parallel with it as is commonly the case, to

cutV the surface of the ground slightly if' necessary just preceding its contact with the ball.

This stick as Vshown anddescribed, owing to the fact that it isnarrower from side to side than from toe to hecha-nd is swung longitudinally or in direction of its greatest dimension, is particularly adapted for striking or lifting the ball from a small hollow or a long narrow hollow or rut such as 1s formed by a cart or wagon wheel and from which it' 1s particularly dilicult to raise the ball with any of the clubs now in general use, from the fact `that the heads on said clubs are so positioned relative to the handle or stick that they extend forward from the player in the direction of its lengthand therefore crosswise of a wheel rut or other narrow depression,- andyare too long to drop naturally into a narrow'depression.

This form of head is particularly adaptedl neath an overhanging rock or where it has lodged beneath the lower board of a .fence or similar obstruction, the angle of the head relative to the shank vand handle being such that it permits the headv to bevinserted in a narrow or low place and enga e' the ball squarely on the face 11, in direction of play, while .the shankisiheld'at an angle and low down if necessary, and not upright to assist in striking the ball. Furthermore, this head is especially adapted for use in tall grass inasmuch as, it being adapted to be played longitudinally of its length in the direction of the play, vit will drop between the blades or cut the grass much more easily than a club, the head of which extends from the handle in a direction crosswise of or laterally to, the line of play. j

Another advantage possessed by my improved club is that it may be used both as a right and left hand club, as desired, whereas other clubs must be made as either a right or left hand club.

Owing to the configuration of the head, it will be noted also that, in case it does strike the ground, only a small portion of the toe will so contact with the ground inasmuch as it is curved from toe to heel on both edges, and this prevents a substantial portion of it from contacting with the ground as is the case with a head the toe of which points away from the player and the side edges of which are thus positioned substantially parallel with the ground and are likely to contact with it.

. ,It may be possible to modify the foregoing construction somewhat in its detail within the spirit-of and vwithout sacricingthe benefits of my invention, and-f 1. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head having an oval playing face, and a shank extended upwardly and forwardly therefrom in a plane substantially longitudinally axial with the length of the playing face.

2. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head' havingA a playing face sub- Stantially'oval in outline, and a shank extended therefrom at one end substantially axially and longitudinally of, and at an angle to the playing face.

3. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head having. a substantially oval playing face forming av toe and heel, and a shank extended upwardly yand forwardly therefrom substantially in a plane central to the toe andleel'.

4. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club having a shank, a playing face carvried thereby the edges `of which arecurved laterally from the shankfsubstantially equal v i in opposite directions and then inwardly for striklng .the ball when 1t haslodged beand downwardly forming a narrow toe, having an upwardly and `rearwardly receding lower face. ,l

. 5. As van article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head provided with a toe and heel, and having a normally ground contacting ,upwardly lreceding curved surface beneath 4its toe, the playing face extended-angularly upwardly therefrom in the line of play and a shank extended forwardly from the heel substantially in the vertical plane of the toe end of the body portion at substantially'the median line thereof, whereby the body portion will project substantially equally on both sides of the shank, and in front thereof when the golf club is in striln'ng position.

8. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head having a. body portion and a sesv shank to receive the shaft,the body portion e.

extendedforwardly of the shank in the line of play, and the shank being attached to the' rear end of the body portion at substantially ioo the median line thereof, the body portion being curved so as to form a relatively narrow toe at its forward end, whereby the body portion will project equally on both-sides of the shank, and in front thereof when the club is in striking position, and the toe will -be adapted to enter a narrow space behind theball and lift the ball out of the same with the least removal of earth.

9. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head having a body portion and a shank to receive the shaft, the body portion extended forgirdly of the shank in the line of play, and e shank being attached to the rear end of the body portion at substantially the median line thereof, the body portion being curved seas to form a relatively narrow toe at its forward end, and narrow heel at the opposite end, whereby the body portion will project equally on both sides of the shank in striln'ng position, and the toe will be adapted to enter a narrow space behind the ball and lift the ball out of the same with the least' removal of earth.

10. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head having a body portion and a shank to receive the and in front thereof when the club is shaft, the body the line of play, and the shank being attached to the rear end of the body portion at substantially the median line thereof, the body portion being curved so as to form a relatively narrow toe at its forward end having an upwardly and rearwardly receding lower face, and narrow heel at the opposite end, whereby the body portion will project equally on both sides of the shank, and in front thereof when the club is in striking position, and the toe will be adapted to enter a narrow space behind the ball and lift the ball out of the same with the least removal of earth.

ll. As an article of manufacture, a niblick golf club head having a body portion and a shank to receive the shaft, the body portion extended forwardly of the shank in the line of play, and the shank being attached to the rear end of the body portion at substantially the median line thereof, the

bodyportion being curved so as to form a adapted to enter a narrow space behind theA ball and lift the ballA out ofl the same with theleast removal of earth.

ln testimony whereof, vI have signed my name to this specilication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH G. TYLER. Witnesses:

ADNA D. SToRns, GEORGE D. Lonn. 

